The Church Is Sleeping In This Critical Hour (Clip)
Leonard Ravenhill warns that the contemporary church is spiritually asleep during its most critical hour, failing to fulfill its calling to prayer and vigilance.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of staying awake and vigilant in the face of betrayal and critical moments, drawing parallels between the disciples sleeping while Jesus faced betrayal and the current state of the church. It highlights the need for the church to awaken from spiritual slumber and prioritize prayer, just as the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.
Full Transcript
And yet verse 46 says, rise, let us be going, behold he is at hand that betrayeth me. So Jesus waited patiently while they slept in the most critical hour of his life. You may not agree with me, that's alright, but I believe that's exactly what the church is doing now in the most critical hour since she was founded, she's sleeping and therefore failing her Lord in this most critical of all critical hours in history.
These are the very men who one day came to Jesus, and as I've said, and not facetiously, they didn't say, Lord teach us to sing, they didn't say, Lord teach us to preach, though he was a master preacher, think of the Sermon on the Mount. They didn't say, Lord teach us to heal the sick. They came and they said, Lord teach us to pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Jesus waits patiently while disciples sleep
- The betrayal is imminent
- The critical hour in Jesus' life
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II
- The church today is spiritually asleep
- Failure to respond in the most critical hour
- Comparison to the original disciples' failure
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III
- Disciples' request to Jesus was to teach them to pray
- Prayer as the foundation of ministry
- Neglect of prayer leads to spiritual failure
Key Quotes
“Jesus waited patiently while they slept in the most critical hour of his life.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“I believe that's exactly what the church is doing now in the most critical hour since she was founded, she's sleeping and therefore failing her Lord.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“These are the very men who one day came to Jesus... they said, Lord teach us to pray.” — Leonard Ravenhill
Application Points
- Commit to a disciplined prayer life as the foundation of spiritual strength.
- Stay spiritually vigilant and awake during challenging times.
- Recognize the urgency of the church's role in this critical hour and respond accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leonard Ravenhill mean by the church 'sleeping'?
He means the church is spiritually inactive and failing to pray and watch during critical times.
Why is prayer emphasized in this sermon?
Because the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, highlighting prayer as essential for spiritual strength.
What is the 'most critical hour' referred to?
It refers to the time of Jesus' betrayal and suffering, paralleled with the church's current spiritual crisis.
How does this sermon challenge the modern church?
It calls the church to awaken from spiritual lethargy and engage in earnest prayer and vigilance.
Is this message relevant today?
Yes, it warns believers to remain alert and faithful in times of spiritual challenge.